826-Unc«ter Farming, Saturday, October 12, 1996 Besty Haas from Vanderbilt, Fayette County, took the Berlin Community Fair by storm with her numerous entries. She was an oft-tilted “premier exhibitor.” Here she is shown In the floral department which she had entered fo the first time and ended up with the most premium money. Community Pride Runs GAY BROWNLEE Somerset Co. Correspondent BERLIN (Somerset Co.) —The Berlin Community Fair, held recently for the 59th time is an event in which community pride is in strong evidence. That’s because, after all this time, the far-reaching fair has long-since drawn hundreds of par ticipants who claim no other attachment to the community, and because its enduring success is shared by the Brothersvalley School District Started in 1937 by the district agriculture students, under advi sor, Bill Igoe, the fair was eventu ally expanded to welcome those folks who lived outside the bor ders of the school district. It also became a member of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs and receives state reimbursement for the premiums it pays this year $5,618. Doyle Paul, the current Berlin- Brothervalley FFA advisor who, for 27 years has presided over the organizational end, says there is excellent cooperation between the fair association and the school district. Donald and Edna Deist from Glencoe, Somerset Co. are enjoying the large vegetable display set up on bleachers last weekend at the Berlin Community Fair. At Berlin Community Classes are held as usual when the ag students prepare the big gymnasium for perhaps, 3,000-plus entries, arranged skill fully, on the covered tiers of bleachers, tables and so forth. For instance, the vegetable department this year recorded an impressive 537 entries for which the premiums paid amounted to $622.50. It was one of 23 departments. Later, premium cards, check writing, and running the balances were ideal experiences for stu dents enrolled in the business edu cation curriculum. “It’s a community activity that allows residents to participate in an activity of the school districts while students are attending clas ses,” said Paul. “It’s still a very normal day for our children.” More than that, the free, four day event is a very attractive place for social interaction, especially for senior citizens who want very much to be a part of things. Barbara Kerschensteiner is such a person. She’s missed the fair only three times in her life. After being widowed earlier, Bar bara was married to Philip Kers- High Fair chensteiner some six years ago. She won’t miss the Berlin Com munity Fair. It’s in her blood. She, herself was graduated from the Berlin high school, as were her sons and now, her grandsons. A big smile on her face, more than anything else, spoke volunms about community pride, as Philip guider her through the aisles on a wheelchair. Scores of flowers and plants, needle and handcrafted items, photographic entries and baked goods that were sold one evening by auctioneer Merle Mishler, along with separate departments for the youth, were all of interest to Barbara. There were also seeds and grains, quilts and rugs and all manner of creative artwork. Pets were allowed a parade of their own, outside near the ag complex and the chickens and rab bit entries were housed away from the main school building. Friday night the large tractor pull was scheduled and Saturday there was a lawn and garden trac tor pull, pedal power for young sters and an A.T.V. pull. Some 30 persons serve a rotat ing membership on the board of directors, along with the teacher of vocational agriculture and the aide, two members of the district board of education that are appointed by the school board, and two faculty members. Their goal is to continue the purpose of the Berlin Community Fair, as in its by-laws ... “encour age a spirit of cooperation ... cre ate interest in improved methods of fanning ... nurture a love for farm life and those things that per tain to agriculture and homemak ■ „ *» mg ... There are no gambling games or devices to detract from the wholesome atmosphere of the celebration. Cleanup is done by the ag stu dents who lug the stuff that needs to be stored and apply themselves to restoring the former order of all the buildings. SEE YOUR NEAREST & DEALER FOR DEPENDABLE EQUIPMENT & SERVICE PENNSYLVANIA MESSICK EQUIPMENT RD 1, Box 255 A 717-259-6617 BHM Farm Equipment, Inc. RD 1, Rte. 934 717-867-2211 Carlisle. PA R&W Equipment Co. 35 East Willow Street 717-243-2686 Messick Farm Equipment, Inc. Rt. 283 - Rheem’s Exit 717-367-1319 Halifax. PA Sweigard Bros. R.D. 3, Box 13 717-896-3414 Norman D. Clark & Son, Inc. Honey Grove, PA 717-734-3682 Loysville, PA 717-789-3117 MARYLAND Frederick. MD Ceresville Ford New Holland, Inc. Rt. 26 East 301-662-4197 Outside MD, 800-331-9122 NEW JERSEY Brldggton. NJ Washington. NJ Leslie G. Fogg, Smith Tractor & Inc. Equip., Inc. Canton & Stow Creek 15 Hillcrest Ave. Landing Rd. 908-689-7900 609-451-2727 609-935-5145 8 ttVHOUAN) Dependable Motor Co. East Main Street 215-273-3131 215-273-3737 A.B.C. Groff, Inc. 110 South Railroad 717-354-4191 PJfiY. PA C.J. Wonsidler Bros. R.D. 2 610-987-6257 Pitman. PA Schreffler Equipment Pitman, PA 717-648-1120 Tamaoua. PA Charles S. Snyder, Inc. R.D. 3 717-386-5945 S.G.Lewis & Son, Inc. 352 N. Jennersville Rd, 610-869-2214 1-800-869-9029 Owen Supply Co Broad Street & East Avenue 609-769-0308
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